Google CEO teases Gingerbread on Samsung Nexus S

Google CEO Eric Schmidt this afternoon gave a sneak peak at Gingerbread -- Android 2.3 -- on "an unannounced" Android device that sure looked a lot like the Samsung Nexus S. It's all going down as we type at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco.

Will we "get" Gingerbread today? Doesn't sound like it. Schmidt said Gingerbread is on its way "in the coming weeks." And as we've said before, we still have to see the SDK and what-not before it starts rolling out to phones, with the Nexus One likely among the first.

What there has been is a bunch of search talk, natch, plus a bunch on NFC, or near-field communication. Basically using your smartphone to complete real-world actions, such as payments. Exciting stuff, to be sure. Be we know what you nerds want. Gingerbread. [Web 2.0 Summit]

I cannot get over this 4" is the sweet spot nonsense. A 4" phone is the same size, or bigger than most 4.3" phones. The Epic is bigger than the EVO, but the EVO has the bigger screen. All of the 4" Galaxy phones, with that so-called 4"sweet spot screen, are the same size, or bigger than the EVO. I'd rather have less margin, more screen. The EVO has spoiled me in that regard. I absolutely love that there is so little margin. I will not own another phone that has a bunch of wasted space like, iphone and galaxy s. The only way 4" is the sweet spot, is if they build the phone smaller than the phones with bigger screens.

Well I think you make a valid point. My point is that (for me) who is used to using a Nexus One, and who has handled the phones you mention, I personally liked the size of the Vibrant screen. I could live with the EVO size device, but it's not my preference. In other words, I like my Nexus One, but it's been my observation that if it were just a tad larger, that would be ideal (for me). I don't know that this falls into the category of nonsense, or should be a precurser to any sort of active neurosis.

I love the look and feel of the nexus one, sans the trackball. I could handle a 3.7-4" phone, as long as the size of the phone matches. The nexus one definitely meets that criteria for me. However, the following phones do not: droids 1,2,,X,galaxy S, iphone. The incredible even has too much margin, but at least the phone is smaller. If Sprint had released the nexus one as planned, I would have jumped on it. Now that I'm used to the evo's screen, It would be very hard to go down in size. That being said, I could do it for a phone like the nexus one. However, the nexus s is not in the same league. I loathe Samsung because of their lack of updates and subpar hardware. After testing out the droid 2, droid x, epic, and fascinate, I learned one thing for sure. Any phone I buy must be htc!

I think that Nexus One is a beautiful build but where I think HTC really screwed up was not just the touch screen sensor, but the fact that because touch is sensed even at the edges, you can't help but create touch sensor errors or confusion when holding the N1 normally and securely. I know what you mean about border size. I really love the build of the HTC Merge because I favor a keyboard and it has a very nice design...as does the Nokia E7. I sent back the G2 because of software issues and I didn't care for the hinge. As to the hinge....they didn't have to build it that way, and I think it was a poor decision to do so. Anyway, any new device I purchase will have to impress me as much or more in terms of the build of the Nexus One, and with much more powerful chips, etc.

I think that Nexus One is a beautiful build but where I think HTC really screwed up was not just the touch screen sensor, but the fact that because touch is sensed even at the edges, you can't help but create touch sensor errors or confusion when holding the N1 normally and securely. I know what you mean about border size. I really love the build of the HTC Merge because I favor a keyboard and it has a very nice design...as does the Nokia E7. I sent back the G2 because of software issues and I didn't care for the hinge. As to the hinge....they didn't have to build it that way, and I think it was a poor decision to do so. Anyway, any new device I purchase will have to impress me as much or more in terms of the build of the Nexus One, and with much more powerful chips, etc.

im curious of the what the iphone 5 will have to offer i just think that ios cant keep up with android, it's growing to fast with to much innovation for apple to just keep up i think. sorry i know that its off topic

Good question. Personally, I think they will support the Nexus S first due to it being newer, than go back and do it for the Nexus One. But im pretty sure they will continue to support the N1 until there is a big leap in OS like honeycomb. The Hardware prolly wont be able to support it imo, but I can be wrong.

Well, in verizons case the blue and green might as well be pink and yellow for easter. That will be when they get it. Remember, it takes months to ruin a pure os while you cripple features and add bloatware. And if anyone thinks the rumored VOIP features baked in gingerbread will remain, sorry, not likely. Google needs a Nexus device on VZW. I hate to say it, and I wont switch because I can root and work around these issues but you know the iphone on vzw will not have an ounce of bloatwate on it and every feature will be available not restricted.

I believe that google is working on voice recognition. what else do we need as credentials? It is like your fingerprint. So, in my opinion, this is the over web shopping future. I bet google is adding support for this (on google checkout and/or on paypal) in the next versions of Android.

Yes that is true...BUT Samsung in NOTORIOUSLY HORRIBLE WITH UPDATES...i mean look gingerbread is gonna come out before any american galaxy s phones get froyo...so when the galaxy s get gingerbread...we will be on honeycomb.

Samsung has made a HUGE push into the mobile market place. They have Galaxy product(s) on every major US carrier. It would be a huge mistake to not support them.

I am sure that Google did their research before selecting them as a partner with the Nexus project. They may even be bound by contract, I am sure there is a lot going on behind the scenes that we cannot see.

Glad to see I'm not the only one thinking this; it's getting really old, really quick, people. Honestly, I wish Moto would have made it, but that doesn't mean I'm going to moan about it every chance I get...

Know what else I getting Very OLD????? How Samsung CPU/GPU are better and faster then HTC's!!!!! Anybody, Anyone? Yea I'm tired of hearing it, But when you look at figures, HTC and Moto both sell more phones the Samsungs better fastter chips. 85% of people buying smart phones could care less about which is faster for gaming when the average consumer wants a phone that does what they need it to for there needs, and hardcore games are Not one of them.

I've been feeling that Gingerbread will be released in December, near Christmas, as well. I mean come on, Gingerbread cookies go with Christmas to begin with and with the festive green and red frosting on the picture how can we not have assumed Christmas from the very beginning.

Google just wants to give a nice present to all those Android users for doing what they do, and what better time to do it than Christmas!

Also mention was made of the NFC chip in the device. Near field communications allow instant paying by passing your phone over a terminal. This is common in cell phones in Japan, and starting to come to North America. Very interesting.